The Next Best Thing to Being There

Work Title: The Next Best Thing to Being There
Medium: Novel
Episode Title:
Year: 1995
Writer(s): Mike Comes
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: Yes

Summary:

"In the short story 'The Next Best Thing to Being There', Mike Combs describes the problem of a remote operations base at the Lunar South Pole. The tele-operators there who are operating the robots by means of augmented reality have an increased sense of aggression" (from http://www.itsf.org/brochure/virtual-reality.html


Era/Year of Portrayal: distant_future

Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

Humans inhabit the moon


Technology

  • Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: Telepresence
  • Description of the technology: Human beings are stationed in telepresence rigs that enable them to use high-tech gear to maneuver robots on the moon's surface. Users wear a special helmet and other materials on their bodies that create the sensation that they are really on the moon's surfac performing the work. Telepresence technology is human-controlled robotic technology that enables humans to remotely control robots as they perform duties on the moon's surface. The users grab rocks, materials, etc. as if they were real, and the objects they pick up or movement they engage in seems realistic because of the amount of resistence exerted by the objects. Users report feeling it is incredibly real and tend to become extremely asorbed in the activities. However, a problem develops because a special researcher, Dr. Eileen Peterson, discovers that users do not suffer physical harm if they fall down.
  • Nature of task or activity: To perform duties that ensure the upkeep of the base located on the moon.
  • Performance of the Technology: It peforms very well and appears realistic, but users cannot feel pain, which turns out to be a flaw.
  • Description of creator(s): No background provided on the creator
  • Major goal(s) of creator(s): To protect human beings from ultra-high levels of radiation on the moon's surface, but also allow them to perform the duties that need they need to.
  • Description of users of technology: Nothing explicitly stated, although it appears they are men and women starting at their mid 20s. The man in charge of the base on the moon is Bruce Franklin and Dr. Eileen Peterson is there to assist him with a few issues he is having. The rest of the employees are not discussed in detail. `
  • Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: both
  • Description of presence experience: From the story, the thoughts of Dr. Eileen Peterson: "She was lying back on the same type of wheeled platform she had seen at the control room earlier. Correction: She was still in that control room. It was amazing how quickly she had fallen into thinking of herself as physically in another place."
  • User awareness of technology during experience: The users have to frequently remind themselves that they are engaging with techology and not really on the moon's surface.
  • Valence of experience: Very pleasant
  • Specific responses: Quoting Dr. Eileen Peterson: "'The problem is,' she began, 'These telepresence rigs do an excellent job of convincing you that you are really out there; that you are the remote. But they don't transmit pain back to the user. Sudden impacts or shocks are felt in the sense that you feel yourself being moved around by them, but they don't hurt. After many hours of use, one could develop a sense of invulnerability. Maybe I'll call it a 'Man of Steel Complex.'"
Long-term consequences:

Perception that because real injury to the human is not possible, that human beings cannot be hurt. Thus Dr. Eileen Peterson believes this is the explanation for increased violence at the base. The story ends with this realization, but it seems a bit premature, meaning the story could have continued for a bit longer.

Other:

Coder name: Eliza Jacobs
Coder email: eliza.jacobs@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple University Philadelphia, PA